Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner listens to President Barack Obama speak during their meeting, Wednesday, March 11, 2009, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

(Newser)
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Barack Obama retains high approval ratings with the public, but a panel of economists had a far more negative view, reports the Wall Street Journal. A majority of 49 economists polled said they were dissatisfied with the president's economic policies. Asked to score his tenure out of 100, economists gave him an average score of 59—an "F," the Journal helpfully notes.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner averaged only 51 out of 100, while the Fed's Ben Bernanke scored a passing grade—71. The economists' principal criticism was the delayed rescue package for the financial sector; since Geithner's notoriously vague announcement of the administration's banking plans, the Dow is down 20%. But Washington was not singled out; 7 out of 10 economists said Europe and Japan have also failed to respond adequately to the crisis.

Polls often depend on who is paying for them. With the WSJ being with Fox News you'd have to be suspect of it. Considering that Obama was coming in and having to set up his cabinet and administration you'd have to say that he needs some time to get people and policies settled in. It appears that some reversal might be coming given the news from Citi, GM and the recent stock market turnaround.

woodyTX

Mar 12, 2009 11:27 PM CDT

You'll have to cite me a reference Pole Rider. The FEB 27th Gallup poll had Obama's disapproval rating at 25% and an approval rating of 67%. Bush's approval rating in OCT 2008 as he left office was 25%.

Doctor-Zaius

Mar 12, 2009 6:20 AM CDT

I'm beginning to think the WSJ is just an extension of Faux News. It used to be the end all be all of news reporting if you threw out the extreme right wing Op/ed page. Now it's all looking like the Op/ed page. Sad really.